San Jose Sharks made dying fan’s wish come true in playoff game

The San Jose Sharks can use all the good karma they can get, and maybe this tale will earn some favor with the hockey gods.

Nick Gallagher is a 28-year-old Aptos resident who has battled brain cancer for the past seven years. Sadly, he’s now in hospice care with a terminal diagnosis. But his wish was to attend a San Jose Sharks playoff game, and the Santa Barbara-based Dream Foundation made it happen for Tuesday’s Game 4 with the help of the Sharks Foundation.

Gallagher and his family lived a Sharks fan’s dream that night. They had dinner alongside broadcasters Brodie Brazil, Bret Hedican and Scott Reiss, watched the Sharks warm up on the ice and delivered high fives to the team as they skated through the giant Shark Head. Gallagher rode on the Zamboni and hung out with Dan Rusanowsky during the thrilling third period. Afterward, the family met with Coach Todd McLelland, General Manager Doug Wilson and nearly all the members of the team including Gallagher’s hero, Joe Thornton.